In the New Testament, leaven is a symbol of any evil influence which, if allowed
to remain, can corrupt the body of believers. Jesus warned His disciples against
the leaven of the Pharisees, their teaching and hypocrisy (Matt. 16:5-12; Luke
12:1). ...

The problem of pain. It's a perennial issue for the defender of
Christianity, and rightfully so. It's also a big question, deserving of a
substantive answer. For the Christian apologist, it boils down to this: How are
we to reconcile what we believe about God (that He is all-powerful, good, wise,
loving, just and merciful), with the undeniable realities of sin, death, evil,
pain, injustice and evil in this world? ...

The early church went through much persecution for their faith in Christ. It
affected their livelihood. They had to ask themselves, Should a Christian
craftsman create idols for the temples? Or should a tailor sew robes for heathen
priests? ...

Gayle Williams was a 34 year-old foreign aid worker serving among the disabled
in a country where humanitarian work is both needed and dangerous. Williams was
killed as she walked to work in 2008, targeted by a militant group because they
believed she was spreading Christianity. ...

What do you do when life doesn't make sense? Do you give in to the notion that
there must not be a God or if there is, he is uncaring and calloused? Some
people do but this only leads to more bitterness in the world. God never meant
for his created human beings to go it alone in this world. ...

When the fierce storms of life overwhelm us, there is only one thing to do
if we want to survive. We must position ourselves in the right place – in
the hands of God – and He will keep us safe and secure until the storm has
passed. ...

Here is a letter from Aleppo, written by the Melkite Archbishop of the city, Jean-Clément
Jeanbart, reflecting on his 20 years of service there, as he now fights for his
faithful to stay in Syria.

...
Today, Aleppo is a wounded city in the full sense of the word. All
socio-economic, artistic and intellectual activities that were its joy have been
brought to a halt; at the same time, the city's archeological riches and ancient
patrimony, our source of pride, have been badly damaged. ...

It's difficult to maintain an encouraging spirit when you're overwhelmed by
problems with your child. We know of a family that faced this predicament.
Jenny was a three-year-old who was still acting like a child in the
"terrible twos"; nearly every interaction between parent and child was
marked by conflict. ...

There are solutions that can at least reduce the number of road-rage
incidents. People who are easily angered by slower drivers, detours and
other traffic disruptions can be taught to be more aware of their responses
and modify them to reduce accident risks, according to research published
this year by the Society for Risk Analysis. ...